Authors Dublin and Kendsley: Crafting Urban Fantasy Magic
Get ready for an epic spotlight of authors Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley! In the ever-evolving landscape of urban fantasy, their Shot in the Dark series stands out as a beacon of creativity and intrigue. This series, beloved by fans of Supernatural and R.J. Anderson’s Knife, masterfully blends elements of romance, suspense, and the supernatural, creating a world that is both enchanting and perilous.
Meet the Authors:
Mary Dublin, born and raised in the heart of Florida, discovered her passion for storytelling at a young age. Her love for words and the solace she found in books transported her to fantastical worlds, inspiring her to dream up her own stories. With a Bachelor’s degree in Character Animation/Emerging Media, Mary pursued a career in communications while nurturing her dream of becoming a writer. Her unique style blends aching romance, heart-pounding drama, and suspense, creating flawed and complex characters that leave a lasting impression on readers. When she’s not writing, Mary is a passionate traveler, yoga enthusiast, and avid hiker, drawing inspiration from her diverse experiences around the world.
Anne Kendsley, hailing from South Texas, shares a similar passion for storytelling. From a young age, Anne developed a deep appreciation for the power of stories, particularly those that explore the fantastical and surreal. Her love for fantasy and sci-fi has carried into her writing, blending with darker, grittier themes. Anne’s stories often feature complex characters who find beauty in a harsh and unforgiving world, standing resilient against societal breakdown. When she’s not writing, Anne enjoys devouring books, daydreaming about her next story, taking walks in the woods, or cozying up with a video game.
Join us for an exclusive Q&A session with Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley, where we’ll delve into their creative processes, inspirations, and what readers can expect from the upcoming sequel.
Q&A:
Can you explain your journey of being a self-published author? Are there any tips you would give an aspiring writer you wants to self-publish?
We tried our hand at self-publishing in 2017. At that point, we had been writing together for about four years, and more than anything, we were dying to hold our story in our hands! The self-publishing landscape was wildly different at the time. Over the years, self-publishing has become a more accessible and viable option for authors who want to be in full control of their work. In the past couple of years, we revamped our approach to self-publishing and marketing to reach a wider audience. There are a variety of tools, programs, and social media platforms at a self-published author's disposal these days, which can be overwhelming. That's why community is vital when it comes to this field. We would advise aspiring indie authors to connect with readers and other indie authors in their genre. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience within these communities, and they are filled with brilliant people willing to share what worked and didn't work for them. Writing for yourself is fulfilling, but taking your work to the self-publishing world requires support—and you'll form wonderful friendships along the way!
How do you handle writer’s block or periods of low creativity? Are there any specific strategies you use to get back on track?
As co-authors, we support each other every step of the way in our writing journey. If one of us is experiencing writer's block, we can bounce ideas off each other in order to work through the issue. It's rare that we both experience a creativity drought at the same time, but we have found that we can help ourselves individually by immersing ourselves in media. Picking up a book, watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a video game can help get the creative juices flowing again.
Could you share some insights into your writing process? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay productive and creative?
We've made many a joke about the two of us sharing one brain cell, but sometimes it does feel that way when it comes to writing! One of us will have a fun, new idea to share, and we pass the seed back and forth, adding new layers through simple (and very excited) conversation until we have a general plot idea with characters we have swiftly fallen in love with. From there, we form an outline on a Google Doc, creating a clear path while leaving room for creativity while drafting. We then take turns writing out a rough draft based on the outline. It's an exhilarating experience, getting to write a book while reading it at the same time. While we both know where the story is headed and have similar writing styles, there is true magic in getting to read each other's unique approach to expanding a bullet point into a beautiful set of paragraphs. As for rituals and habits, we are both fans of ambient videos to set the mood for what we're writing.
How do you create complex and relatable characters in your novels? Are there any specific techniques or inspirations you draw from when developing their personalities, motivations, and arcs?
Similar to how we craft our plots, creating our characters is a team effort. Each of our characters feels like a neverending conversation between the two of us. We flesh them out simply because we love talking about them to each other! Layers of complexity, flaws, and endearing qualities are gradually added from their inception to the final draft. As readers, we favor intrigue over surface-level likeability in the book characters we enjoy. One technique we try to employ is the idea of a fatal flaw—what is generally a positive trait or value in a character that will get them into trouble in a particular situation, or be twisted into a negative though intriguing quality?
Could you share your process for world-building? How do you balance creating unique settings while ensuring they resonate with readers?
Rather than building our setting from the ground up, we weave magic and bloodthirsty creatures into the existing modern world of Shot in the Dark. Readers are able to resonate with a familiar landscape while delving into the existence of monsters, fairies, and hunters hidden beneath the surface. Because the characters must operate with such secrecy, we have fun brainstorming about the systems that keep the supernatural world away from the public eye. We love the idea of readers looking at their world with a new layer of imagination even after closing the book.
What have been the most rewarding moments in your writing journey? Conversely, what challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
When we buckled down and decided to publish Shot in the Dark, we always said that even if we only reached one or two people who loved the story, we would feel accomplished. Some of the most rewarding moments have been hearing from readers who fell in love with our book and characters. Getting to build a little community in our corner of the internet has been immeasurably fulfilling. On the other hand, it’s human nature to fixate on the occasional negative review, even if it’s nestled in a sea of a hundred positive ones. We would be lying if we said we weren’t affected at all, but we can say that we dust ourselves off and keep doing what we love. We have each other for support, as well as the foundation of a growth mindset.
How do you connect with your readers? Do you have any memorable interactions or experiences with fans that stand out to you?
We connect to readers through our main social media platforms—Instagram and TikTok—as well as our Discord server. Our favorite interactions involve readers being absolutely head over heels for one or more of our characters. We always enjoy a good keyboard-smash screaming session over these made-up people who have lived in our heads for over a decade! Another favorite interaction was with a reader who expressed that our pitch of “Supernatural meets Fern Gully” seemed like an absurd combination that could never work, but we somehow pulled it off and knocked it out of the park.
What advice would you give to new writers?
If you love to write, it is highly likely you love to read. With that in mind, take a mindful approach to some of the books you enjoy—especially if you’re in the mood to reread some of your favorites. Take the time to analyze why you love a particular story or writing style. You can take annotating to the next level by highlighting or tabbing particularly inspiring moments or phrasing. Also, be open to reading educational books that break down story structure and self-editing. Listen to the writing processes of other authors and take note. You do not need to incorporate every bit of advice into your writing style or rituals, but the more you learn, the more you can experiment in your journey to discover what works for you.
What are some of your all-time favorite books, and why do they resonate with you? Are there any lesser-known gems you'd recommend to fellow readers?
Anne - My all-time favorite series growing up was the Percy Jackson series, and I continue to read new releases to this day! I’ve always had a soft spot for a rag-tag bunch of characters going on adventures and bonding. That would also explain my obsession with Six of Crows.
Mary- Growing up, I fell in love with Gail Carson Levine’s works (Ella Enchanted, The Farthest Away Mountain), Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, and the Artemis Fowl series. It should surprise no one that I returned in my early teens to Gail Carson Levine’s illustrated Pixie Hollow novels, which I loved for their ethereal quality and diving deeper into beloved characters with emotional twists I wouldn’t expect!
What do you wish people/readers knew about you?
While those following us closely on social media may already know, we really like to reinforce that we are not just business partners and coauthors, but best friends to the platonic soulmate level. We have been best friends for over 12 years, and hope to continue adventuring, supporting each other, and penning stories together for the rest of our lives.
What future projects or ideas are you excited about? Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next?
We are thrilled to share the bewitching sequel to Shot in the Dark on April 17, 2025! This second book in the series will continue the found family adventure where book one left off, leading our protagonists into the shadowy bayous of Louisiana. Stay tuned for swamp sirens, forbidden love, and betrayal!
We are also working on a secret novella set in the Shot in the Dark universe that combines dark fairytale elements with Irish folklore. It’s still very new but we already have fallen head over heels for these characters.
What kind of research do you do for your books, and how do you integrate real-world knowledge into your fantasy settings?
Given that Shot in the Dark takes place in a modern day-adjacent world, much of our research follows specific timelines or continuity for locations—including foliage and monster folklore. We also like to research how locals would describe a certain area, down to the smells! Cliff and Jon are also master marksmen and hunters, so we have had to do a lot of research on combat and weaponry.
Can you tell us about a scene or character that was particularly challenging to write? How did you overcome those challenges?
We have always been perfectionists about action and fight scenes. Finding the balance between being descriptive and fast-paced during high-tension moments can be tricky. The climactic fight scene with the werewolf in Shot in the Dark was a scene we labored over many times! It rooms several rounds of edits and research before nailing the rhythm of internal and external conflict in the scene without losing the heart-pounding pacing.
Start The Series:
Shot in the Dark
Quick Synopsis:
The series kicks off with a gripping tale that follows Sylvia, a fairy who defies the strict rules of her village to explore the world beyond. Her life changes dramatically after an encounter with monster hunters Jon and Cliff. Captured and wounded, Sylvia’s fate intertwines with Jon’s when she saves his life through a magical pact with the Ancients. As they hunt a ruthless werewolf together, Sylvia and Jon’s relationship evolves from hostility to forbidden attraction, all while racing against time to save countless lives. The story explores themes of identity, forbidden love, and the courage to embrace one’s true self.
Includes:
Forced Proximity
BA Fairies
Enemines to Lovers
Action
Forbidden Love
Found Family
Werewolf Hunt
Note: Hunted in the Shadows, book two in the Shot in the Dark series - Coming April 17th, 2025
